Does member review get it right?

That and the hopefuls queue is stocked till November. Makes me VERY hesitant about shooting new girls.

I know i'd much rather see a set go live from an active girl. And I'm sure the members would agree. It's part of the whole appeal. To see a beautiful set, and to actually get a feeling of what this girl is about by reading her posts ect.

Does this new system get it right? I'm not sold on it yet.

Do your favorite photos usually end up on the front page? No. There are of course the "duh sets" (as in, of course that set had to be bought), but there are lots of sets I was sure would be bought and weren't. Lots more of those now.

Or do you feel like the old way, where the staff selected the photos generally put more of what you were looking for on the front page? Six of one, half dozen of the other in a lot of ways. But I feel like I was seeing more of what appealed to me (personally and in terms of what I like to see on SG) with old staff review.

And I strongly dislike viewing some of the crap sets in MR. I mean, some are truly terrible. Not even funny terrible, or "isn't that reminiscent of the old days"... they are just plain terrible. And I don't think that's good for anyone's image...

I said it wrong and went to read the thread and my edit time was gone.

I meant that sets do not get bought from girls that are not VERY active on the site. The girls that Im talking about update their journals a bit here and there and check in whenever they can but are not at home or at a job and able to comment around the site all the time.

Hell, Mary is the face of SG to me but never had an journal before (insert appropriate time here) and hasn't has one since April 2007.

Yep, got ya. I thought you meant girls that are just plain inactive. All good.

There is only one thing I really don't like about MR: Horrible sets. No one wants to look at them or be associated with them. I would be thrilled if there were clear minimum photographic standards that had to be adhered to.

Other than that, I like it a lot. People seem more excited about sets, girls seem to be more interested in shooting, and I feel a lot more confident in the possibilities of getting sets accepted and up on the front page. That was the main thing I hated about the old system- if your set got bought, it might never go up on the front page.

I agree with Thistle and Amina.

I think MR is a great way to get people excited about shooting and coming up with more creative ideas for sets. It's a way to ensure that if you're producing quality sets, then it will see the front page.

On the other hand, the influx of hopefuls has increased and while some of the sets being submitted are definitely SG worthy, I think a lot of girls are under the impression that it's "easy" to be accepted now, and shoot a shit set and then submit it. There are too, too many sets that absolutely are not SG quality flooding the MR queue right now, and it's a bit of a shame when there's kickass sets being forgotten about.

I'll just add points as I have them and the time to articulate them...

*I really appreciate the diversity of sets (aesthetics, girls, etc.) that MR has brought and think that this is really quite awesome about the system. It allows people to "take risks". Even if they could take them beforehand, the models and photographers feel more free to do so now, which adds incredible diversity to the MR queue and considerable (though less) diversity to the front page

*I feel inundated by the number of sets and wish that MR would be a little bit more selective with both hopefuls (especially) and SGs

*I think that the overwhelming number of sets causes one to use various devices for choosing which sets to look at, e.g. only favorite girls, favorite tags, favorite photographers, favorite bodyparts shown on thumbnails....

*I miss the surprise aspect and wish more were still (or will be still) accepted via staff review. I almost solely comment on sets while in MR now and very infrequently when they hit the front page

*I don't like that girls (not me, I don't mind the system, but others) feel forced to submit to MR (though I know the queue is still being shortened and that there will be potential for this in the future)

*I wish it were a bit clearer how sets were accepted and whether the council is considered at all or whether it's just kind an amusement, perceived influence, occasional suggestion forum

*I don't like girls having to pimp and them thinking it's a voting/attention contest

*I think that MR is a better short-term business plan

*I think that SG has to be more careful of its long term niche market positioning with MR

I'm getting used to it...

I like that there is more creative freedom.

I like shorter wait times and the ability for girls to submit sets more often.

I think that members appreciate being part of the process, and it strengthens the fanbases of both individual SG's and the site itself.

BUT

I miss the element of surprise.

I also feel that there is a huge popularity aspect to the new system.

I think that girls feel pressured into putting their sets in member review.

Now that I see how it's working, I wish I would have voted for the original idea... the one where we'd get paid a lot less, but submit all we want. I think that I like the system okay, but it needs a bit of tweeking still.

I still think it's unfair that we can't immediately take down our pictures from member review if we want to. Yes, it might not give the set a fair chance, but it still seems to me that if a girl can't take her photos down, then they aren't really hers. Maybe girls could be paid $50 for the obligatory three months, and the rest of the money if the set goes live? There might be some technical issues I'm missing here, regarding copyrights and such. I guess I'm not that well-informed on these issues. Just an idea though.

I agree with Fatality about the business aspect. I've been considering that, too.

It sounds like I hate it, but I really do like the new system. I think it gives the site a more community-oriented feel.

Hey! So I'm the one who decides which sets make it into member review and which do not. I'm really trying to give lots of different girls a chance to be viewed by you guys. I have been really strict on which sets are being posted, so I'm kind of at a loss now that everyone is saying they'd like to see more moderation in what gets posted in member review.

There are lots of sets that aren't technically great, but the girl is just really beautiful. I feel that there is a bit of a learning curve, and that just because someone may not have a great camera does not mean they shouldn't be allowed to get some feedback and try again to make a really great set. To be honest, we have been declining 2 sets for every one set that makes it into member review - there is just an overwhelming number of girls that want to be SuicideGirls!

There are so many great new additions to the site with member review, I feel it would be a shame to not let someone in because they aren't able to shoot with a staff photographer right away, or because they don't have access to a great camera. If you'll notice, all the recent sets fit the guidelines - at least 40 photos, nudity is required, each set has a theme. What else do you think I should take into consideration when reviewing sets submitted for member review? I'm not trying to be an asshole, I really want to know so that I can do my job better

Also, the girls that have their sets declined for member review - man, they keep on trying! I get so many emails asking why their set won't be posted and that they want a shot with the members and what can they do to improve. You'd be surprised at the number of girls who really want their sets to be seen!

May i ask what kind of guidelines are in place for chosing what sets are allowed into member review? Because it's not just the photography that is letting the sets down, there are alot of other reasons, and sometimes, quite frankly it is the girl. And like someone mentioed earlier, we really, don't want to see those sets. They are a waste of time to be honest. And I'm sure alot of people agree.

Yes, it is a shame that some of the beautiful girls out there don't have access to great photographer, lighting ect, but their sets are really not interesting and not up to par, and if I know alot of the girls do not want to be associated with that.

yes it's sad, but just because a girl is beautiful, doesn't mean her crappy set should be put up, just because she can't be shot with a decent photographer just yet.

I don't find that surprising at all. And good on them, but there are alot of way to be seen on the internet, and for some of them, being an SG is not one of them, they just aren't of high enough quality.

I think there should be another avenue for girls who are hot but sets suck. Perhaps decline the set for MR but still give the girl a shorter free membership. This way she can look around the site and post her set for feedback and critique. I just think MR should be for sets that SG would seriously consider purchasing. There is a difference between lo-fi and just plain crap.

Your question was answered in the post you quoted:

As for this sweet little comment:

Wow, guess SG should just appoint you to 'beauty queen' police so none of those uggos get in on that member review queue.

I think seeing the amateur sets, as a photographer, I can see that girls who should be a model on SG but haven't yet made that great set.

Viva shitty unprofessional sets from hopefuls. Thanks.

Exactly!

Did I call anyone and uggo? No. I never even said it was about looks,

Amina, you just have to read people's comments from around the site to realise, that i am not the only one that feels this way.

Just break that one down for me please. Beacuse if she isn't an uggo..well, then why "quite frankly it is the girl."?

And why is she and her photos a waste of time?